Separator



n 06f. 20, 1936. J. A STUARD 2,058,189

SPARATOR Filed oct. 24, 1933 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 `UNITED STATES yPAT ENT OF'IFI-"C'E l SEPARATOR.

James A. Stuard, Roaring Spring," Pa.

Application October .24, 1933, Serial No. 695,031

Claims.

This invention relates to a separator which is an improvement on the separator as comprised in my Patent #1,937,855 issued December 5, 1933,

and 4it is an object off-the invention to provide a .5 device of this kind comprising a casing divided into a separating chamber and a dry-air chamber, one in communication with the other, and wherein the casing has an inlet port for the air stream in communication with the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the .dry air chamber withmeans controlled by the flow of the air stream for maintaining in open position the controlling valve for the vent opening of the casing while the .air stream is flowing.

Another object-of the invention is to provide a separator of this kind comprising a container divided into a separating .chamber and a dry air chamber, one in communication with the other, together -with means for preventing retrograde ow from the air chamber into the separating chamber, the separating chamber having in communication therewith an inlet port for the air stream and the dry air chamber having an outlet port for the air stream.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination .and arrangement of the several lparts of my improved separator whereby certain importantadvantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more Yconvenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more vfully set forth.

The novel features ofmy invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention .may be the better understood, .I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view `partly in section and partlyr in elevation illustrating a separator constructed in accordance with .an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 .is a Afragmentary horizontal sectional view `taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

As disclosed .in the `accoimgianying drawing, the separatorcomprises a .casing or shell I of desired conguration having .one .end .2 (permanently closed while the opposite -end is initially open but adapted to be closed by .a cap 3 removably held ito the lopen end portion of the shell or casing fl bythe bolts 4. The cap 3 .in its central part is provided with an outlet port 5 while the side wall of the casing or shell I in relatively close proximity to-its initially Vopen en d is -provided with an inlet port li.V l n The lower portionof the shell or casing .-I vhas disposed thereacross a partition "lkdividing'the casing or shell I `.into an upper separating chamberCand a lower elimination chamberE. 'fTh'es'e two chambers are Yin .communication through 'th'e opening 8 herein disclosed aslcentrally varranged with respect to the -partitio'nland as"i1lustra`te`d this partition 1 is in 'the ','form of van inverted truncated cone. n

The casing or shell nI `closely adjacent tov 'its upperor initially open end is provided therearound with an internal shoulder v-9 upon which is rested the outer marginal .portion vof a flange I0 extending .outwardly and laterally `fvrom the upper .end portion of atubular member '|I. The interior of this member vII constitutes a ,filtering chamber F and the lower .end of themembe'r II is intersected by a perforatedhead `I'2. Adjacent its opposite or upper end the Imember l'I -isproi vided with an internal ange I4 with which en'- gages a perforated head I5 threading within'the member II or. otherwise detachably held inapplied position. The major portion o'ithe chamber F is lled with .pebbles I6 Yand 'interposed between the pebbles [I6 and the applied head I5 .is a packing or lamination 'I'I of 'ginn'e'd wool or other shredded fibrous material. Y

Overlying the flange IU and in direct lcoritact therewith is the marginal portion of a ,plate I8, the outerface of which being substantially flush with the adjacent end .face oi the easing or shell I, and this Aplate I8 ,closes "theinneriaee'offthe cap l3 whereby the interior of Vthe cap 3 consti- -anv elongated valve rod 24. This valve rod 24 is of a length to extend up through the Achamber C and through the chamber F into the chamberD, the heads I2 and I5 associated with the member II being provided with suitably'positioned .openings 25 to allow for the passage therethrough of the rod 24.

The plate I8 is also provided with a relatively large opening l26`through which the rod 24.pass`es. Theopening`26 is den'ed by a barrel 21 extendtutes a dry -air chamber D with which -c'or'n- 3'5 Vmunicates the -outlet port 5 hereinb'e'fore 'reing inwardly of the dry air chamber D and the outer end of this barrel 21 is closed except for the opening 28 through which the rod 24 is continued. Carried by the rod 24 is a piston 29 which snugly engages within the barrel 21 and interposed between the piston 29 and the closed end of the barrel 21 is an expansible member 30 herein disclosed as a coil spring which is of sufficient tension when the pressure in the chambers C and D is equalized as upon closing of the flow out through the outlet port 5 to return the needle valve 23 to its seat and to maintain said valve in closed position.

Fitting within the upper portion of the plug 20 is a spider 3| provided with a central opening 32 through which the rod 24 is freely directed and whereby the applied spider 3| serves as a guide for the lower en-d portion of the rod 24 or that portion of the rod 24 immediately adjacent to the needle valve 23.

The applied spider 3| or perforated plate, as it may also be termed, provides a seat for a cylindrical screening unit or element 33 on the top of which is fitted a flat plate or cap 34. Connecting the applied plate or cap 34 and the spider 3| `are the holding rods 35 each of which having threaded on one extremity a nut 36 engaging the spider or plate 3| from below and upon its opposite extremity with a nut 31 engaging the plate or cap 34 from above. Each of these rods 35, as herein disclosed, is surrounded by a tube or sleeve 38 bridging the space between the applied spider or plate 3| `and plate or cap 34 thus relieving the screening unit or element 33 of load.

The central portion of the plate or cap 34 is provided with an opening 39 through which the rod 24 freely passes and whereby this applied plate or cap 34 also provides a guide for the lower portion of the rod 24.

Surrounding the opening 39 in the plate or cap 34 is an upstanding nipple 49 herein disclosed as integrally formed with the plate or cap 34 and threading into or otherwise secured within the nipple 40 is the lower end portion of a tubular member 4| through which the rod 24 is freely inserted. This tubular member 4| is of a length to extend up through the openings 25 in the heads 2 and l5 of the member whereby ,desired freedom of movement of the rod 24 through the member l is assured.

It is of particular importance that this tubular member 4| does not extend down to a point closely adjacent to the spider or plate 3| because under such conditions there is a possibility of moisture working up through the tubular mem- Vber 4| between the interior wall of said member and the periphery of the rod 24 and thus being carried up into the dry air chamber D and out through the port 5 to the work and thus to a certain extent probably impair the eiciency of the separator.

Outwardly of the barrel 21 the plate I8 is provided with a series of openings 42 affording communication between the chambers F and D and coacting with and common to all of these openings `42 is a non-return valve 43, herein disclosed as a at annular member of required dimensions, and freely extending through this annular valve at desired points thereof is a plurality of upstanding pins 44 carried by the plate I8. The outer end portion of each of these pins is provided with a cross member or head 45 and interposed between this cross member or head 45 and the valve 43 is an expansible member 46, herein disclosed as a coil spring, encircling the pin 44 .loss of air out through such opening.

and of desired tension. Each of these springs provides an effective medium for maintaining the valve 43 closed with respect to the openings 42.

An end portion of the rod 24 above the barrel 21 carries an enlargement or head 41 with which engages from below an end portion of a rock lever 48. As illustrated in Figure 1 this lever 48 intermediate its ends, as at 49, is pivotally connected for rocking movement with a plate 59 bolted or otherwise secured to the side wall of the barrel 21. The outer end portion of this lever 48 is adapted tol be engaged from above by the inserted end portion of a shank 5|.

This shank 5| is threaded through a bushing 52 extending through the wall of the cap 3 and the outer or exterior end of the shank 5| is provided with a head 53 whereby the shank 5| may be readily operated to swing the lever 48 in a direction to effect a manual lifting of the valve 23 and for maintaining said valve in its lifted or open position. Upon movement of the shank 5| in the opposite direction the spring 30 hereinbefore referred to will, of course, operate automatically to return the valve 23 to closed position. When thev device is normally functioning the shank 5| is in a position to offer no hindrance or obstruction to the automatic operation of the rod 24.

As the air stream is flowing through the casing or shell said stream will pass up through the chamber F whereby any foreign particle therein will be readily ltered out by the pebbles i5 and the packing |1 and the pressure of the air from below upon the piston 29 will move the piston 29 together with the rod 24 against the tension of the spring 30 and thereby lift the valve 23 into open position. It is believed to be obvious that when the air stream is flowing through the casing or shell there is unhindered ow through the outlet port 5 thus assuring reduction of pressure in the chamber D and as the air pressure is greater than the resistance oifered by the spring 3U, the desired lifting of the Valve 23 is assured. The greater pressure within the chamber C will also lift the valve member 43 so that the air will readily flow into the dry air chamber D and out through the port 5.

When the valve 23 is in open position, the opening 2| will operate as a Vent to break the suction action of the air stream flowing through the casing or shell to allow separation of the moisture from the air stream and which moisture will precipitate within the elimination chamber E and drain out through the opening 2|. Just as soon,

however, as the air stream stops flowing, as by l closing the valve comprised in the tool or appurtenance with which the port 5 communicates, the pressure within the chambers C and D will equaliZe and the valve member 43 will return to closed position, as illustrated in Figure 1, while they Valve 23 will be automatically returned to its seat by the spring 39 to close the opening 2| and thus prevent In the present embodiment of the invention the rod 24 fits sufhciently loose through the outer closed or head end of the barrel 21 so that no resistance will be offered to the outward movement of the piston 29 and, of course, the rod 24 when the port 5 is open for flow therethrough with resultant reduction of pressure in the chamber D with respect to the pressure in the chamber C. This loose fitting of the rod 24 is the equivalent and equally as efficient as providing a port in the closed or head end of the barrel 21.

By providing the openings 42 for the air to ow from the chamber F into the chamber D, it has been found in practice that this effectively prevents any chattering of the rod 24 which might result in a temporary closing of the valve 23 with resultant impairment of the efficiency of the apparatus.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 622,551 filed July 14, 1932, the same having issued on December 5, 1933 as Patent #1,937,855, insofar as pertains to the screening or separating unit for the vent opening an embodiment of which feature being included in this prior application but not claimed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a separator constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts v herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus for removing moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air comprising a casing divided into a separating chamber and a dry air chamber, said chambers being in communication, a valve automatically closing said communication when the pressure in the chambers is equalized, said valve moving into open position when the pressure in the dry air chamber is reduced, said casing having an inlet port for the air stream in communication with the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the dry air chamber, said casing also having a vent opening, a valve for the vent opening, and means entirely controlled by the flow of the air stream for maintaining the valve in open position while the air stream is flowing, said valve returning to closed position when said air flow is stopped.

2. An apparatus for remo-ving moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air comprising a casing, a plate dividing the casing into a separating chamber and a dry air chamber, said plate having an opening affording communication between said chambers, the casing having an inlet port for the air stream in communication with the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the dry air chamber, said casing also having a vent opening in communication with the separating chamber, a valve for the vent opening including a rod, a barrel carried by the plate and into which said rod extends, said barrel having its outer portion in communication with the separating chamber, a piston within the barrel and carried by the rod whereby the valve is maintained in open position when the air stream is flowing through the separating chamber.

3. An apparatus for removing moisture from ya flowing stream of compressed air comprising a casing, a plate dividing the casing into a separating chamber and a dry air chamber, said plate having an opening affording communication between said chambers, the casing having an inlet port for the air stream in communicationrwith the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the dry air chamber, said casing also having a vent opening in communication with the separating chamber, a valve for the vent opening including a rod, a barrel carried by the plate and into which said rod extends, said barrel being in communication with the separating chamber, a piston within the barrel and carried by the rod whereby the valve is maintained in open position when the air stream is flowing through the separating chamber, the opening affording communication be-` tween the chambers being independent of the barrel.

4. An apparatus for removing moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air comprising a casing, a plate dividing the casing into a separating chamber and a dry air chamber, said plate having an opening affording communication between said chambers, the casing having an inlet port for the air stream in communication with the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the dry air chamber, said casing also having a vent opening in communication with the separating chamber, a valve for the vent opening including a rod, a barrel carried by the plate and into which said rod extends, said barrel having its outer portion in communication with the separating chamber, a piston within the barrel and carried'by the rod whereby the valve is maintained in open position when the air stream is flowing through the separating chamber, and means for returning the valve to closed position when the air flow is stopped.

5. An apparatus for removing moisture from a owing stream of compressed air comprising a casing divided into a separating chamber and a dry air chamber, a barrel in communication with the separating chamber and the dry air chamber, the casing having an inlet port for the air stream in communication with the separating chamber and an outlet port for the air stream in communication with the dry air chamber, said casing also having a Vent opening in communication with the separating chamber, a valve for the vent opening including a rod extending into the barrel,

a piston within the barrel and movable with the f rod whereby the valve is maintained in open position when the air stream is flowing through the separating chamber and the dry air chamber and through the outlet port, said chambers being in communication otherwise than through the barrel.

JAMES A. STUARD. 

